The Predators have a leader

Robert Rodriguez is producing the new Predators sequel/reboot. News was he had seven directors in mind including Neil Marshall (Doomsday, Dog Soldiers, Descent), but most recently we had the news that Nimród Antal was the favourite for the job.

Turns out that the favourite is the winner. Rodriguez spoke to AICN and confirmed that Antal will be directing Predators. This is what Rodriguez had to say about him.

First of all, on a personal level I found him to be an outstanding presence, a great communicator full of ideas, and upon meeting him you can immediately understand how he is able to wrangle cast and crew and get the best out of everyone. I always loved Kontroll, where he proved himself to be a very resourceful and original filmmaker. When I saw Armored, I could tell he's also great with action and has a keen eye for casting. He reminded me of Quentin with how he was able to work with a group of very strong, singular actor talents and make it look effortless. I know he'll be able to get the most out of what we want to be an outstanding cast. We really want to go with a character driven action movie, because that's what we all remember about the original Predator, and we want to take it even further with this.

He also gave us an idea as to what we can expect to see in the film.

I can't go too much into the story right now, because we're still writing. But it still involves a very intense group of people stranded on a Predator planet discovering unspeakable horrors (that are not always from outside their group). So like the original movie, the title does have a double meaning.

Aliens was a different take on the Alien idea, and an original movie in it's own right, and that's what we want to do with this.

As to how this movie will be viewed, one of the guys at Fox told me "No one is ever going to talk about AVP again after this film, I will stake my life on it."

And he's a really nice guy, so I don't want to see him dead. Now that lives are at stake, it's no longer a job it's a mission.

Failure is not an option.

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Is Nimród going to direct Predators? - No not the Mutant hunting robot from the X-Men comics.

There have been lots of rumours floating around regarding Robert Rodriguez's Predators reboot / sequel. First Arnie was going to cameo in it, then he wasn't. Derek Mears (Jason in the Friday the 13th reboot) was also rumoured to be in it, but he hadn't heard anything.

The most recent news was that Rodriguez, who is producing the film, had seven directors in mind. Neil Marshall (Dog Soldiers, Descent, Doomsday and Centurion) was one of the seven. Michael Bassett (Solomon Kane) was possibly one of the others.

LatinoReview has exclusively learned that director Nimród Antal is one of the other directors and is also the one most likely to get the job.

If you are not too sure as to who Antal is, well he's the director behind Vacancy and Armored.

I've not seen Vacancy so I don't know how good a choice he will be. Although Armored looks like it could be good in an old school heist gone wrong way.

LatinoReview are usually spot on with their news, as they say "keep in mind when I said the same thing about Jackie Earle Haley being Freddy, the producer denied my story until it ultimately ended up true."

Still early days and I'm sure we will hear confirmation or denial from Rodriguez over the next day or two.

Mighty Muggs - Wolverine, Hellboy, Predator, Batman, Spawn

The always excellent ToysREvil had these photos of some custom painted Mighty Muggs. They were spotted at the 8th Philippine Toys, Hobbies and Collectibles Convention 2009 and are by Likhang Pinoy Customs. I am not sure if the G.I. Joe ones are custom jobs with specially made boxes or whether they are part of the Muggs range.
I think the Hellboy one below is my favourite.

Discuss in the forum or leave a comment below.

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Is Michael Bassett in the running to direct Predators?

Last week I mentioned the fact that Neil Marshall (Dog Soldiers, Descent) was one of several directors in the running to direct the Robert Rodriguez produced Predators.

Now it looks as if we may have one of the other directors in the running. Michael Bassett (Solomon Kane) talks about his recent trip to LA to discuss one thing. Reading between the lines I am pretty sure he is talking about Predators.

I had a specific reason for going so it was all pretty focused on that one thing. There are several directors being met and considered so I can’t/won’t be specific about what this is. I’m also pretty sure I’m not at the top of anyone’s list for this gig, though god knows I pitched my little heart out for it. I met with the producer (even though arranging the meeting was like trying to juggle mercury) at the very swanky Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills and spent a pleasurable few hours chatting about his work and achievements as well as this project. He’s a director as well and it was really interesting listening to some of his war-stories. He’s not much older than I am but has been far more productive in his time and I was pretty blown away by that sheer heads-down determination and work ethic he’s got. Makes me feel like a lazy underachiever in comparison. Though he’d seen Solomon Kane and really liked it, the film of mine that he dug most was WILDERNESS. He responded to the strong performances of the young cast and sheer ferocity of the kills which I think plays to elements of this project.

Then I met with the executives at the studio that’s financing. Once again, a great meeting with a huge amount of positive energy and enthusiasm from me and them. I came away thinking that – whoever gets the gig – they’re going to have a really passionate team behind them.

Anyway, back home now and awaiting feedback from this trip. It’s a long shot but the game’s not over just yet. I think I know who’s most likely to get the job out of the other names I’ve heard and if I’m right, then we’ll all get a great movie and if it’s me, we’ll then, we’ll get an even better one

Maybe he is talking about Neil Marshall in that last paragraph or mayber somebody else.

In a previous post on his excellent blog he talks about dream projects (Half-Life, Outland and more) and mentions the Alien films.

Alien is the reason I became a film maker. I don’t care about Ripley (edit – just to qualify this comment; Fincher finished her story in Alien3 and bringing her back felt like a diservice to her character in Alien4.) I want to know about the Aliens; their world, the ecosystem or intelligence that created them. Imagine if the Alien in its home world was nothing more than a wasp or ant? What kind of planet would that be? I’d rather Ridley Scott or James Cameron did it but if they won’t I’ll happily take a swing. Anything has to be better than the Alien movies we’ve been served up so far. (And this is coming from a guy who went to New York to see the opening of Alien3 in Times Square. I’ve long since forgiven Fincher who is clearly a genius but boy, it stung at the time. In fact you can kinda see what he was trying to do if you look at the extended cut. Still bad but now at least a really noble failure.) I hear now that the Ridley is producing a prequel with his favourite new Wunderkind director protege. Maybe we’ll finally find out what the hell the ’space jockey’ was all about. Wish it was me doing it though…

He definitley has the right mindset and geek credentials to make a new Predator film that we all want to see. Right, I'm off to see if I can get an interview with him.

Do you think Bassett is talking about the Predators film? Out of him and Marshall who do you think would deliver the better film?

Discuss in the forum or leave a comment below.

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Aliens vs Chuck Norris

Thanks to Paul for sending me the pic.

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Neil Marshall is one of seven directors in the running for Predators

The news yesterday was that Neil Marshall was in talks to direct Predators produced by Robert Rodriguez. Today AICN have found out that Neil Marshall is one of about 7 names that Robert is looking at and meeting with right now.

They contacted Robert about this story and his update was that he's looking at various works by the guys in the running, and he'll be seeing Neil's Centurion very soon, but at this point, Neil and the other candidates are collectively holding their breaths to see who comes out the other end.

Robert doesn't want the list of names out there at this point, but like so many rumors hitting the net at this juncture - it seems a lot of folks that hear something and leap to report before there is really anything solid.

Neil's talks are the same as all the others. He has met with Robert. Robert did like him. Robert is looking forward to seeing Centurion. But he has similar feelings about the other candidates.

Who could the other 6 directors be?

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Neil Marshall may direct Predators

It looks as if Neil Marshall (Dog Soldiers, Descent, Doomsday and the forthcoming Centurion) may possibly be directing Robert Rodriguez's Predators according to Bloody Disgusting.

This could be a good choice for the franchise as he has dealt with people in prosthetics, big battle scenes and scary situations. Hell, if you replaced the Werewolves in Dog Soldiers with Predators then you would have a pretty effective film.

Mind you this puts paid to my whole "Neil Marshall is working backwards through the alphabet making films starting with the letter D" theory or NMIWBTTAMFSWTLD.

Do you think Marshall is a good fit for the Predators film? If not him who would be a better choice?

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Derek Mears talks about Predators

Derek Mears, the guy who played Jason in the Friday the 13th reboot has apprantly been rumoured to have something to do with Robert Rodriguez's Predators.

This video below from MovieWeb shows that it was news to Derek, but he does seem excited at the prospect.

He's got the build and the speed to make a pretty good Predator, but again, it is very early days on the project and I doubt they've got into the casting yet.

Discuss in the forum or leave a comment below.

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Predators - Arnie has not been approached

Ah the wonders of on-line news. You never know if it is really true until you see it on the big screen. It doesn't help that people like Michael Bay like to tell the odd little fib about Megatron being dead, then alive, then dead again to keep things muddied up.

The latest piece of setting the record straight is all to do the news from a few days ago that Arnold Schwarzenegger had been approached by people representing Robert Rodriguez to star in Predators.

Harry Knowles over at AICN knows how to reach various people in the film biz. One such person is Robert Rodriguez. Harry asked him straight out about the Arnie rumour and this is what Bobby had to say.

Online news is amazing, much more exciting than real life!

There are so many sites saying that I'm actively pursuing Arnold!

Feels like all i have to do is sit here, and let the websites do the work!

Actually, what probably happened is someone conjured that up because of my 1994 draft, that had Dutch as a main character. And then it probably just built from there.

But no, we're still writing a new script, and although I know Arnold personally and he's the coolest person on the planet, I have not contacted him about this at all at this time.

As promised, I'll keep you posted on such developments since Predator is such a fan favorite.

But then again, he could very well have told someone he'd be into it. Who knows?
Personally, I haven't heard anything. But it's still early in the day.

-R

There you have it. At the moment Arnold is not going to be in the Predators film and has never been approached, but still, wouldn't it be cool if he was. Mind you I wouldn't be surprised if in a couple of days time there is another story about Arnie starring in the film. We shall just have to wait and see.

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Another remake? Commando indeedo

Remake, remake, remake. That's all it seems to be these days. Recently it has been mentioned that Total Recall is to be remade, Predators is to be reimagined and now another Arnold Schwarzenegger classis is going the remake way.

JoBlo was pointed to a piece in an Australian magazine named RCI that indicated Commando was in line for a remake.

The site also checked with its own sources who also have, "heard whispers" of this remake . The source also indicated that the idea for the reboot had been brewing for some time now.

Looks like John Matrix will be slapping on the old camo and kicking ass once again.

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Arnie may be in Predators

I'm a big fan of the Predator and Predator 2. I love the whole concept and they are just great action movies. The news that Robert Rodriguez was going to reboot the franchise with Predators made me a little excited.

Now, this news from Moviehole makes me even more interested in the proceedings. Their source is anonymous but it does sound feasible.

“Robert’s camp has just reached out to Arnie’s [camp]”, we were informed. “But they haven’t had a response yet”.

“They’ve written a role for him” a second source later told us via email. ‘’Rodriguez is as against the idea of a straight-up remake as much as anyone – which is why they’re considering this an official sequel to John McTiernan’s film. Like Terminator, they know Schwarzenegger’s a vital ingredient of the franchise. Ideally, Arnold will see it that way too. Ball is in his court now”.

Schwarzenegger would reprise his role as Major Alan "Dutch" Schaefer, the canon-armed Special Forces leader who took on the Predator in the first film

Dutch won’t be the main character in the film, but he will play a part (again, if Schwarzenegger agrees) in the film.

“The script is terrific... I hear. It’s partly the old Predators script Rodriguez did, but mostly new stuff by [Alex] Litvak. And it’s violent – like the original. Everybody here at [name removed] has pointed out how much better it is than [Paul W.S] Anderson’s abomination. Doesn't sound like there's any reason to worry”.

Sounds good doesn't it and having Dutch cameo in the new film will tie it in to the Predator Mythos set up by the first two films. I just hope Arnold takes them up on the offer. The fact they are not doing a straight remake is also brilliant news.

Predators, produced by Rodriguez, will hit theatres July 2010.

How do you feel about Arnie reprising his original role in the new film?

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The Random - Predators, Christopher Lee, Nazi Zombies vs Jesus, Burlesque, 20000 Leagues Under the Sea, Iron Man 2, Primeval, Tron 2, Dazed & Confused

- According to Bloody Disgusting the Robert Rodriguez produced Predators reboot/sequel is being written by Alex Litvak (co-author of the recently sold Medieval). It is also due out on 9th July 2010.

- Christopher Lee is returning to Hammer Horror, according to Filmstalker, with a film called The Resident a.k.a. Invasion of Privacy. He's set to star alongside Hilary Swank and Jeffrey Dean Morgan and it is written and directed by Antti Jokinen. A doctor suspects that she may not actually be alone in her new apartment, a converted loft in Brooklyn, and it seems that her landlord has a wholly unhealthy obsession with her.

- Pop singer Christina Aguilera has been cast in her first feature film titled Burlesque in development at Screen Gems. The film is a contemporary musical where Aguilera will play an ambitious smalltown girl with a big voice who finds love, family and success in a Los Angeles neo-burlesque club. Burlesque is being pitched as Moulin Rouge meets Cabaret, using established songs that will be updated and worked into dance numbers. Former actor Steve Antin will also be making this his feature directorial debut.

- SciFi Wire talked with McG today and got confirmation that Dwayne Johnson is not involved in 20000 Leagues Under the Sea. "I've never spoken to Dwayne Johnson. You can be the first to report that I have no idea where that came from. I wish him every success, but I never spoke to Dwayne about this," McG said. He still claims he's going after Will Smith for the lead role.

- The Daily Mail, Paltrow has been getting in shape for a “risque scene” alongside leading man Robert Downey Jr. “Iron Man imagines Pepper in a dominatrix outfit,” a source tells the news outlet. “Gwyneth had to be filmed in a very revealing black leather corset complete with a bullwhip.”

- Despite rumors of its cancellation, ITV dinosaur-themed action series Primeval will return for a fourth season "provided ratings remain strong" says producer Adrian Hodges. "As of this moment no final decision has been taken - as we knew it wouldn't be - but we are very confident about the future of the show. ITV always said they would look at the recommission at some point towards the end of the run or later and that remains absolutely the position" said Hodges to Total Sci-Fi Online. The show is also being developed as a major feature film says Digital Spy. No word on who is involved just yet.

- Comments from British actor Michael Sheen on Twitter have revealed that he's playing a non-human villain in a secret project currently shooting in Vancouver and that he's 'Personally very happy to see so many Tron fans' indicating he's likely starring in the currently filming sequel ... full details.

- Stephen Fry let slip last week that filmmakers are coming up with ideas to use a fully constructed set of Jerusalem currently sitting dormant in New Zealand and Peter Jackson has come up with an idea in which Nazi zombies go back in time to stop Jesus from being born. Jackson’s manager denies the report saying he's committed to 'The Hobbit' films for now... (full details.

- Matthew McConaughey says that he'd be up for doing a Dazed and Confused sequel but director Richard Linklater has to "pick the right way to do it"... full details

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Ridley Scott is toying with an Alien prequel

IESB recently spoke to Fox Co-Chairman, Tom Rothman about a whole host of things.

Regarding a possible Alien prequel, "There's been some talk. Ridley Scott, Ridley is right now working on Robin Hood, but I think he's toying with the idea and that would be great for us. I mean, it's always been a matter of, really, if you can get the originator to do it that would be the greatest thing, so I've got my fingers crossed, all of them."

Interesting indeed. How cool would that be to have Scott back on the Alien universe. Would we finally get to find out some more about the Space Jockey and how his ship crashed.

He also talked about Robert Rodriguez' Predators (and the fact that he has been given total control of the franchise), Daredevil, Avatar at Comic Con, Fan Four and the new Wolverine film.

Check out the full interview over on IESB.

Do you want another Ridley Scott Alien film? What would you like to see in a prequel? Should there be a definitive origin to the Alien?

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Robert Rodriguez is Rebooting Predator

In a recent news conference at Troublemaker Studios, several Texas state politicians were in attendance to sign HB 873, the long-awaited reform of the Texas film incentive program. All well and good, but IESB had this cool piece of news.

Rodriguez talked to the audience of press members and revealed his upcoming film slate.

"I'm going to be able to shoot my upcoming Machete here, a sci-fi action film called Nervewrackers, a re-boot of the Predator series called Predators, and a couple of smaller movies called Sin City 2 and The Jetsons."

There is lots of news in that one statement. Machete is a full film from the trailer that featured in Grind House, Sin City 2 will be cool and I just don't know about The Jetsons.

The big news to me is the reboot of Predator. I love the first two films and the whole concept of the Predator is just great. I even liked the Mr Wolf style Predator in the recent AvP2 so to see more of the dreadlocked hunter will be fantastic.

However, I am a little concerned about Rodriguez directing it. Don't get me wrong I loved Sin City, Desperado etc, but he just seems to have become obsessed with the whole green screen thing. Hopefully, he'll lay off that a little for the new Predator as he can do some brilliant action scenes.

What are your views on Rodriguez directing the new Predator film? Where should it be set? What do you want to see in it?


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